MINSK, May 21 (RIA Novosti) - Belarus is set to boost economic, social and cultural ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

A Belarusian delegation visited the former Georgian republics on May 13-14.

"We have a series of economic, social, cultural and humanitarian projects that we can offer to these republics," Andrei Popov said. "The aim of the visit by the Belarusian delegation was to boost these ties."

The presidents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have requested that the Belarusian parliament recognize their independence, as Russia and Nicaragua have done. However, the issue has not been included in the agenda for the parliament's spring session, which began on March 2.

The parliament speaker said the question is currently being discussed by the relevant committee.